Blue Wahoos Win Third Straight Over Tennessee
May 10, 2015
Wandy Peralta usually needs a translator when speaking with the media.
Asked if he trusted his fellow Spanish-speaking catcher, Yovan Gonzalez, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos left hander gave his answer in English. “Yes, a lot.”
The battery mates stole the show Saturday as Pensacola won its third in a row—it’s longest win streak since July 22-25 last season—in front of a sellout crowd of 5,038 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Pensacola beat the Tennessee Smokies, 5-1, to also win the six-game series, 4-2. It was the first series the Blue Wahoos have taken this season, too.
Peralta gave up eight runs in two innings in his last start against the Jackson Generals. This time, Peralta got stingy. He gave up just one run in seven innings on four hits and four strike outs. He improved to 2-3 with a 4.85 ERA.
Meanwhile, Pensacola hitters backed him up with five runs, including a solo homer deep over the left field fence by Gonzalez, who was activated off the disabled list Saturday. Gonzalez, who put Pensacola up 4-1, went 2-4 on the night after hurting his back so much he couldn’t even swing a bat.
“My back was so sore I couldn’t even swing,” Gonzalez said. “In a game, I couldn’t throw the bat at the ball.”
Did he feel any pain on his long home run? “No, but the ball did,” Gonzalez said.
Pensacola Manager Pat Kelly said jokingly that he doesn’t remember seeing Gonzalez hit a dinger in his career. He actually has 11, including one last year for the High-A Bakersfield Blaze that Kelly managed.
“Wandy is very emotional out there and Yovan does a great job of keeping him calm,” Kelly said. “Their communication is better because of their language. (Gonzalez) caught him a lot in Bakersfield.”
Pensacola got Peralta runs right off the bat, when they went ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning. Kyle Waldrop lashed a two-out triple into the right field corner that scored Jesse Winker, who had doubled, and Marquez Smith, who earned a walk.
Another run came across in the third when Beau Amaral doubled in Ray Chang, who had doubled to make it, 3-0, after two innings. Gonzalez then homered and Pensacola added an insurance run in the eighth inning when Winker scored his second run of the game on a Chang sacrifice fly to right field that made the score, 5-1.
Kelly said he was not surprised by the Blue Wahoos (11-19) performance in the series.
The Smokies hitters, who entered the series leading the league in hitting, batted just .201 against Pensacola pitching. Smokies star hitters catcher Kyle Schwarber, who bats third, went 2-11 and is batting .325 on the season. Meanwhile, first baseman Dan Vogelbach was 3-16 and drove in three runs and is now batting .330.
“This is what we are capable of doing,” Kelly said. “Getting those two-out base hits really makes a difference. It’s nice to see the players with some confidence. They really played great all series.”
Don’t Forget: Help ‘Stamp Out Hunger’ At Your Mailbox Today
May 9, 2015
Saturday is the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. You can help by placing a bag of non-perishable food items in or around your mailbox. Your letter carrier will collect the food items and deliver them to local food bank banks and pantries.
The Letter Carriers Food Drive is the largest, single-day effort to combat hunger in America.
Suggested non-perishable food items include canned soup, canned meat, canned vegetables, bottled juice, pasta, rice or cereal. Items that are past their expiration date or in glass containers should not be included.
Sunny, Warm And Dry Weekend
May 9, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light southeast after midnight.
Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Sunday Night
Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph.
Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight.
Tuesday
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
Wednesday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. North wind around 5 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87.
Thursday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Friday
A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82.
Friday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Saturday
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83.
Tate Softball Championship Team Returns To Hero’s Welcome
May 9, 2015
The Tate Lady Aggies returned home to a hero’s welcome Friday afternoon, a Class 7A state championship trophy in hand. The state softball championship is the first in Tate High School’s history.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Evers Applauds Scott For Prison Reform Order After Legislation Stalls
May 9, 2015
After lawmakers failed to agree on prison reforms this session, Gov. Rick Scott on Friday issued an executive order incorporating some of the provisions in House and Senate bills, including those involving use of force and chemical agents by guards.
Senate Criminal Justice Chairman Greg Evers, who made a series of unannounced visits to several state prisons this year, praised Scott for issuing the order.
“This is very pleasing. It just goes to show that our governor is really paying attention to what goes on in the Legislature,” Evers, who represents the North Escambia area, said.
Department of Corrections Secretary Julie Jones has already begun to implement some of the items included in Scott’s four-page executive order, which she said emphasizes the importance of the reforms.
“There’s so much skepticism as to whether were going to follow up on things and whether we’ll really do it. It was just to make the point that this is important. I want to implement all of the good stuff the Legislature tried to accomplish this past session. The best way to nail it home was to codify it and make it official. That’s the only reason that we did the executive order,” Jones told The News Service of Florida.
The reforms come amid increased scrutiny of Florida’s prisons in the wake of reports of inmate deaths at the hands of abusive prison guards, cover-ups involving inmate deaths and allegations of retaliation against whistleblowers.
Mirroring a component of a bill unanimously approved by the Senate, Scott’s order requires the department to track use-of-force incidents. Guards or officers who use force on inmates will also have to create “independent” reports of the incidents, sworn under oath, and file them within one day.
Jones said she is already asking prisons to start compiling use-of-force reports.
“Then everything is going into one major spreadsheet in Tallahassee, and that way I can look at officers as they move between facilities to keep track of any and all of their activity. So it’s happening on two different fronts,” she said Friday.
And, as in the Senate proposal (SB 7020), Scott’s order requires each prison to keep track of the use of chemical agents as well as the disposal of expired, used or damaged canisters of gas.
Tracking use-of-force incidents as well as the chemical agents themselves are among the most significant items included in the reforms, Jones said.
“The mere fact that we have eyes on the use of force issues. … We’re going to go ahead and create the extra accountability at the regional level that the House wanted, and we’re doing a deep dive on the chemical agents. That whole audit and that wholesale review of the chemical agents, you’ve heard stories. I’ve heard stories. I think that’s a big piece,” she said.
Like the House plan, Scott’s executive order adds a fourth administrative region to the Department of Corrections and requires regional directors to make at least two surprise visits each quarter to prisons within their areas. The directors will also have to review “statistics and trends” related to use of force, employee discipline, inmate grievances and inmate abuse four times a year.
Scott’s order also requires Jones to “ensure that the department establishes a policy to protect from retaliation those employees who report wrongdoing,” an undertaking Jones and her predecessor, Mike Crews, have struggled to implement in an agency where guards have repeatedly complained about retribution from supervisors or colleagues after exposing abuse or corruption.
The governor’s executive action also requires the agency to investigate and evaluate “the usefulness and dependability of existing safety and security technology,” including new video-monitoring systems, and to contract with safety and security consultants as needed.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
May 9, 2015
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending May 7 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Lewis, with assistance from Officer Ramos, had another busy weekend in the Blackwater State Forest. In addition to several citations issued for possession of alcoholic beverages in posted areas and driving on closed roads, they charged four subjects with possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia. Another charge for possession of hash oil is pending.
Officer Jones was on patrol on East Bay where he observed a fisherman in a kayak catch a redfish and put it on his stringer. When the fisherman left the fishing site, Officer Jones stopped him for a routine inspection. The fisherman was found to be in possession of three redfish with the bag limit being two fish per day. The man was charged with the violation.
FWC officers aboard the vessel FINCAT patrolled the Gulf of Mexico in both state and federal waters. During these patrols, several state and federal violations were discovered on several different vessels. Warnings were given for no state fishing license and possession of gray triggerfish during the closed season. Federal citations were issued to persons on different vessels in federal waters for being in possession of red snapper, gray triggerfish, gag grouper and failure to land greater amberjack in whole condition.
No report from Escambia County was submitted.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week;however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
Northview Heads To State After First Ever Regional Win
May 9, 2015
The Northview Chiefs are headed to the Class 1A state baseball championship tournament for the first time ever after an 8-4 win over Bozeman Friday night in Panama City.
The Chiefs (19-2) will face Blountstown (21-8) Wednesday in the state semifinal round at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers. Blountstown beat Central Friday night 3-1.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Northview Presents ‘Hairspray’; One Show Remains Tonight
May 9, 2015
There’s one more chance for you to see the Northview High School Theatre Department presentation of the Broadway musical “Hairspray” tonight.
It’s 1962, and pleasantly plump Baltimore teen Tracy Turnblad has only one desire – to dance on the popular “Corny Collins Show.” When her dream comes true, Tracy is transformed from social outcast to sudden star. It is a show that’s great for the entire family.
Tonight’s performance will be at 7:00 in the Northview Theatre. Ticket are $8 at the door while they last. The opening night performance of the musical was Friday night.
NorthEscambia.com will publish a complete photo gallery on Sunday.
Pictured: Scenes from Friday night’s production of Hairspray at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Win Over TN
May 9, 2015
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos won their first back-to-back games of the season with a, 3-0, victory over the Tennessee Smokies in front of a sellout crowd of 5,038 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The winning run was actually knocked in by starting pitcher Josh Smith—an .086 hitter in his sixth year in the minor leagues. It was his first Double-A RBI when he singled in center fielder Beau Amaral from third in the third inning. Amaral tripled, singled, stole a base and scored two runs in the game.
Smith threw five scoreless innings, retiring the first 11 batters before allowing a sharp single up the middle to Tennessee right fielder Bijan Rademacher. Smith allowed two hits and struck out five to earn the victory and improve to 3-1 on the season with a 2.16 ERA.
“When I was here before I didn’t do much extra work in the cage,” Smith said. “But in the big leagues, I noticed the guys would go hit 3, 4, 5 times a week. I don’t want to come out in the fourth, fifth or sixth innings. I want to be able to help the team any way I can.”
Pensacola Manager Pat Kelly said the Blue Wahoos fans deserved to see an entertaining baseball game Friday night.
“That’s a great crowd that comes and supports us every night,” Kelly said. “It was nice to give them a good game to watch. We want them to keep coming back.”
First baseman Ray Chang had one single in his three plate appearances and scored the other run for the Blue Wahoos. The hit extended his hitting streak to six games. He’s hitting .500 (8-16) and scored four runs total in those games.
Chang credited hitting coach Alex Pelaez and Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame shortstop Barry Larkin for helping tweak his swing this week, giving him more power. He tripled off the glove of Tennessee right fielder Bijan Rademacher’s glove but the three-bagger was ruled an error, instead of a hit.
Larkin is in Pensacola in his new role as the Reds roving minor league infield instructor.
“I’ve been working real hard with Al and Barry on my swing,” Chang said. “To be honest with you we had a team meeting before (Thursday’s) game and he was not bashing on us, just making comments on what he saw. He talked about his approach to the game and what he sees in our styles.”
Kelly said he would like to keep Larkin around to continue helping the Blue Wahoos, who entered Friday’s game with the Smokies batting a Southern League worst .224 batting average.
“He’s been outstanding working with the hitters and doing stuff with the infielders,” Kelly said. “He’s had a great impact on the players. I wish we could keep him all year.”
Escambia Wants More Volunteer Firefighters Rather Than Raising Taxes, Using Reserve Funds
May 8, 2015
Escambia County is making changes related to volunteer firefighters, hoping to streamline the process of recruiting more volunteers rather than raising taxes or dipping into financial reserves to hire a large number of career firefighters.
The Escambia County Commission has approved the use of reserve funds to hire nine firefighters and three lieutenants to staff the Ferry Pass Fire Station. Thursday, they discussed the possibility of using reserve funds or raising taxes to continue those positions next year, and possibly staff the West Pensacola station with paid firefighters.
The commission decided late Thursday night to continue their discussions before raising taxes or dipping into reserves. Regardless, they want to see the volunteer ranks bolstered.
County Administrator Jack Brown is in the process of implementing several fire services changes related to volunteers.
Potential volunteers will be able to fill out and submit an simplified application at their local fire station or online. They will then interview with a district chief at their local state. A background check will be conducted, and the applicant will take a physical agility test that will not have to be passed on the first. Upon the completion of the background check, the applicant will be scheduled for a medical physical. The goal is to complete the steps in 30 days, rather than the months it can currently take.
A significant portion of training classes will be moved online, allowing volunteer recruits to complete modules on their schedule rather than attending required classes. Firefighter One training classes and modules will be designed to have a break during the schedule to allow for family time so it’s not five straight months of classes. If an individual misses a reasonable amount of time due to illness or other unforeseen circumstances, the department will work with them to try to make up the material.
Volunteers without Firefighter One certification may support the overall operation as long are within the “safe zone” and are only performing duties they have been “trained commensurate to duty” — meaning they must have document training in the special task or a combination of skills to accomplish the assigned task.
Stipends paid to volunteers will remain in place, based upon events rather than hours. Volunteers, due to IRS regulations, are no longer to spend time at their station on a “duty crew” for credit toward their stipend, but the credit can be made up by special details.
The county also plans to hire a volunteer coordinator, a position that was already budgeted. The volunteer coordinator will be recommended by the Volunteer Firefighters’ Association, approved by the county administrator and will receive a stipend. The volunteer coordinator will provide input, concerns and issues from volunteers. The volunteers, through the volunteer coordinator, will present a draft recruitment plan to the county administrator and commanding officers.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.